1. MASSIVE RETRIEVAL
The massive retrieval of Knifefish in Laguna Lake is a collaborative effort initially between the BFAR, LLDA, LGUs and FARMCs. The objective of the project is to mobilize the MFARMC to collect/retrieve knifefish from the lake through a buy-back scheme funded by the BFAR and administered by the local government units.
The BFAR transferred P200,000.00 in eleven (11) coastal municipalities in Laguna and 150,000.00 for Ten (10) coastal municipalities, Laguna (7) and Rizal (3) for the knifefish retrieval at a price of P20.00 per kilo and implemented collection scheme and technologies of its economic utilization resulting to the collection of 74 tons of knifefish from February 2013 to December 2014.
LLDA administered fund for the cash for work to 19 coastal municipalities in Laguna and Rizal resulting to the retrieval of 74 tons of Knifefish.
In 2014, the DSWD also implemented the retrieval of knifefish under the Cash for Work Program involving Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries. A total of P 15,562.800 M were released benefitting 5,400 fisherfolks.
Apart from reducing the knifefish population in the Lake, the activity gave supplemental income to the fishermen and provided raw materials for the development of knifefish based value added products.
2. ECONOMIC UTILIZATION OF KNIFEFISH
The BFAR, thru its Post Harvest Technology Division, developed value added products like hotdog, fishball, kikiam, burger patties, tofu, siomai and nuggets from the collected knifefish.
The NIFTC also processed knifefish into fishmeal and in partnership with the National Brackishwater Aquaculture Technology Center (NBATC) the National Fisheries Biological Center (NFBC) the National Integrated Fisheries Technology Development Center (NIFTDC) and the National Freshwater Fisheries Technology Center (NFFTC) for its utilization as trash fish for mudcrab, maliputo, seabass and tilapia. Exploratory research was also undertaken for the processing of the skin into fish leather.
3. LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES
The livelihood project was the result of the convergence project/ activities of BFAR, LLDA, BSWD, DTI, LGU and FARMC. designed to provide supplemental livelihood to affected fisherfolks by exploring the economic utilization of knifefish as raw materials for a specific livelihood project on processing and value adding and fish meal production.
The BFAR, DSWD and LLDA provide the raw materials for processing out of the massive retrieval activities. BFAR also provided the technology on knifefish based value added products and conducted series of training on processing to (10) municipalities in Laguna (5) Rizal (3) and NCR (2)
The training is an actual demonstration on the production of value added products out of knifefish as well as lectures on HACCP protocol and marketing strategy. Each training was attended by 50 Participants coming from members of Women’s/fisherfolk organization of each municipality identified.
DTI provided the equipments under the Shared Service Facility program while the LGU provided the processing facility.
The livelihood component of knifefish project was launched earlier on 10 February 2014 held at BFAR-NIFTC, Tanay, Rizal.
The pilot mini processing plant was establish in Pila, Laguna with AKAP/MAPILA as project beneficiary. The raw materials of the processing plant was provided by catch from the massive retrieval of knifefish from the lake.
The facility was inaugurated/launched on February 10, 2014
4. FISHING GEAR
BFAR distributed 100 units of long line “kitang” fishing gear to 4 municipalities in Laguna (Bay, Sta. Cruz, Pangil, Siniloan), 3 in Rizal (Cardona, Binangonan, Taytay) and 2 in NCR (Muntinlupa, Taguig) to increase the volume of catch. Second batch of fishing gears are due for distribution to other municipalities who were included in the first batch.
5. INFORMATION EDUCATION CAMPAIGN (IEC)
The BFAR and PCAARRD implement the project on the PRODUCTION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ON INVASIVE SPECIES to support the Inter-Agency Technical Working Group on the Containment of Knifefish in Laguna de Bay with information campaign , targeting fishing communities, Local Government Units, students and the general public can enhance public cooperation and encourage community participation and mobilize citizen science to help ensure the effectiveness of current efforts to contain the knifefish infestation and prevent the spread of knifefish and other invasive fishes in the natural inland waters.
Information on the biology, ecology, socio-economic impacts, and threats brought about by knifefish were gathered from published literature and key informants to continuously update on-going studies and primary data from the member-agencies of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Knifefish. Specifically, the project draw information from the results of the BFAR Project on the Containment of Knifefish infestation in Laguna de Bay.
The information collected were use to prepare the IEC materials which included print materials in the forms of flyers, posters, stickers, fans, video, t-shirts and eco-bags with the theme “Knifefish Sugpuin” and “Don’t Dump Invasive”.
Quad media dissemination of information through newsprint, TV, radio and net programs and participation in special such as
Fish Conservation Week
Agri-Link
Agricultural Fairs
Fairs and exhibits
A total of 300 flyers, 248 fan, 13 DVD’s, 200 stickers, 88 T-shirts, 300 IEC posters and 100 bookmarks were posted in each of the coastal municipalities of Laguna de Bay, and distributed in schools.
An inter-active Invasive Species sub-domain was established and maintained to provide a homepage for information dissemination and participatory citizen science. The webpage will contains information of knifefish and other potential invasive fishes and provides a venue for reporting invasive species sightings.
A “Comics Writing Contest” was conducted and participated by 7 national science high schools around Laguna de Bay won by
1st Price: Calamba Science High School
Si Juan at ang Knifefish
2nd Price: Rizal National Science High School
Pag-asa ng Lawa
3rd Price: Cavite National Science High School
The Plight at Laguna de Bay
The winners were awarded during the launching of the invasive fishes website and the entries are now in the process of printing and publication.
Resource papers were presented during special fora:
- NAST: Emerging Threat to Lake Ecosystem
- NFRDI: Aquaculture and Biodiversity: Enhancement or Threat Science Conference
- LSPU: Biodiversity Trend
4. INTERVENTION ON THE LIFE CYCLE
A. Salinity Tolerance Test
Salinity tolerance test was conducted to explore the natural salt intrusion in the lake and establish the level of salt concentration lethal for the knifefish. It showed a lethal salinity level of 12 ppt for knifefish which is higher than the tolerance level of many indigenous species in the lake.
B. Electrocution and Burying of Eggs
BFAR-NIFTC also conducted experiments to intervene on the life cycle and recruitment pattern of knifefish by electrocution and burying of knifefish eggs. Electrocution resulted to 17% mortality of eggs while burying the eggs resulted to 100% mortality.
A prototype electro fishing gadget is being developed in collaboration with the National marine Fisheries Development Center. A joint Memorandum Order by BFAR-LLDA will provide the guidelines for the application of the gadget.
C. Research and Development
R & D activities were also undertaken in coordination with the academe. The Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) thru their Electrical Engineering students develop a prototype gadget in the form of egg addler to exterminate the eggs of the knifefish through exposure to the electricity current.
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